I Really Am A Villain

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When Xu Zimo emerged from the Inner World, the spatial barrier was already fragile and on the verge of collapse.

This time, aside from that single jade pendant, there was nothing else of value. The lack of gain left Xu Zimo somewhat disappointed.

He had originally believed there would be over a dozen blue beings inside, enough for him to harvest immense benefits. With so many of them, his path toward becoming a Saint Sovereign would only grow smoother.

But unfortunately, those “blue people” hadn’t been the Myriad Streams at all, merely false flames wearing the disguise of water.

Xu Zimo didn’t know what consequences might come from merging with such flames. Likely, even the Sacred Flame Trinity themselves had been deceived.

That Blade Tyrant fellow… he had fooled nearly the entire Prince’s Manor.

After all, the blue beings had been captured by him, he would have known the truth better than anyone.

Returning from the Inner World to the Prince’s Manor’s forbidden grounds, Xu Zimo noticed that aside from Shangguan Xian and the others, a man stood outside with two guards at his sides.

“You’re finally out,” the man said with a smile when he saw Xu Zimo. “Allow me to introduce myself. You may call me Fire Ancestor, or, if you prefer, the Master of the Chaos Fire God Realm.”

Xu Zimo immediately knew this was the true master of the Chaotic Fire Region, the ultimate ruler.

He lifted his gaze slightly and asked calmly, “What do you want?”

Xu Zimo had little fondness for this man. He was always scheming. Though, truth be told, many of those plans wouldn’t have changed Xu Zimo’s course, he would have acted anyway. Still, the man’s calculating nature irritated him deeply.

So unless necessary, Xu Zimo preferred not to deal with him at all.

The Chaos Fire God Realm’s Lord didn’t seem offended by his cold tone. He merely smiled and asked, “What did you see inside that world?”

“It’s none of your concern,” Xu Zimo replied flatly. “If you want to know, you can go see for yourself.”

“Even if you don’t say it, I can guess,” the Fire Ancestor said. “It was the Myriad Streams, wasn’t it? The Prince’s Manor’s secret couldn’t stay hidden from me.”

“Then why bother asking?” Xu Zimo said evenly.

“I’m not here to accuse you of anything,” the Fire Ancestor continued. “I only came to warn you, the Myriad Streams are a calamity. You mustn’t touch them. The Inferno Crucible Heaven is overrun with Water Beasts now, and it’s all because of them.”

“I don’t need your warnings,” Xu Zimo said curtly. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”

To him, this Fire Ancestor sounded tedious.

The so-called Myriad Streams were nothing but a counterfeit fire wrapped in a watery guise. The Fire Ancestor didn’t even know the truth, only speculating blindly.

The Fire Ancestor could sense the hostility in Xu Zimo’s tone. But he didn’t mind; his own objectives had already been achieved. The Prince’s Manor was destroyed, that was all that mattered.

“The Fire God Race’s Ancestral Lands,” he said at last, “I hope you’ll attend. Even if you’re not one of us, you’ll benefit greatly there.”

With that, he tore open the void before him and vanished.

Xu Zimo didn’t respond. The matter of the Fire God Race’s origin could wait.

For now, he intended to head to the Departure Fire God Realm.

Rumor had it that the place had already fallen under the control of the Water Beasts. And after everything that had happened with the Prince’s Manor, Xu Zimo’s curiosity about it only grew stronger.

He looked toward Shangguan Xian and the others, it was time to part ways.

“Holy Lord Zhang, I wish you a safe journey. Return to the Celestial Mortal Holy Lands,” Xu Zimo said with a wave of his hand.

“Parting ways with Young Master Xu,” Zhang Hengzhi said solemnly, “I find myself full of reflection. This may well have been the most meaningful period of my entire life.”

Xu Zimo nodded lightly.

Zhang Hengzhi departed with Liu Huohuo and the rest of his disciples.

Even Bian Wenzhou soon took his leave.

Only Shangguan Xian remained. She smiled faintly and said, “I’m a homeless wanderer now. Would the Young Master be willing to take me in?”

“You know where I’m headed?” Xu Zimo asked. “If you come with me, you might miss the opening of the Ancestral Lands. I have zero interest in that place.”

“Although the Ancestral Lands is indeed tempting,” Shangguan Xian said with a laugh, “my intuition tells me I might gain even more by following you.”

“Your intuition isn’t very reliable,” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head. “The things I do usually come with a high chance of death.”

“Then I’ll follow you anyway,” she said lightly.

“You may come,” Xu Zimo said frankly, “but I won’t guarantee your safety.”

He had no idea what awaited him in the Departure Fire God Realm, and he had no desire to bring along someone who might slow him down.

Though Shangguan Xian was fairly strong, to Xu Zimo, she was still a burden.

“I understand,” she said. “I’ll protect myself. If I die, then it’s a death without regret.”

Xu Zimo nodded slightly.

The two of them left the Prince’s Manor’s compound together. The stares that followed them through the streets didn’t bother Xu Zimo in the least.

After all, he had just annihilated the Prince’s Manor, his name would soon shake the entire Chaos Fire God Realm.

He was already known as the foremost talent among the younger generation; now his fame would reach new heights.

“The Seven Great Fire God Realms are connected,” he mused. “Is there a teleportation formation from here to the Departure Fire God Realm?”

“There used to be,” Shangguan Xian explained. “But ever since the Departure Fire God Realm was overrun by the Water Beasts, the Chaos Fire God Realm severed the formations, to prevent the beasts from invading through them. Now the farthest we can travel is to Stone Flame City, which lies right on the border between the two regions.”

“Stone Flame City,” Xu Zimo said, “that’s the one Blade Tyrant managed, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Shangguan Xian nodded. “But with Blade Tyrant dead, I imagine the Chaos Fire God Realm will soon appoint a new city lord.”

“Then we’ll head to Stone Flame City first,” Xu Zimo said.

When they arrived at the teleportation formation, the place wasn’t crowded.

In front of them stood a man dressed in a cyan robe, looking scholarly and refined. His face carried a warm smile, gentle, pleasant, the kind of expression that made everyone feel at ease.

“You two are heading to Stone Flame City as well?” the man asked politely.

“That’s right,” Shangguan Xian replied with a nod.

She studied the man for a moment, her brows lifting slightly. “Might you be Huo Yunzi?”

“You know me?” The refined man chuckled with mild surprise.

He had been in seclusion for many years, few people still recognized his name.

“I’ve only heard of you,” Shangguan Xian said. “Your Fire Cloud Sword at your waist gave you away. I recognized you by that sword.”

Xu Zimo glanced down. The sword hanging at the man’s waist was indeed distinctive, a fiery red blade, its scabbard adorned with drifting white clouds. Whatever material it was forged from, it radiated a powerful sword spirit, almost alive with energy.

“Not to hide it from you,” Huo Yunzi said with a wry smile, “I’ve been given a rather unpleasant task, to go to Stone Flame City and serve as its new city lord. I hope the two of you will show me some courtesy once we arrive, and not make things difficult for me.”

“That hardly sounds unpleasant,” Shangguan Xian said, laughing. “The previous city lord is dead, so there’s no one left to compete with you. To take a city for yourself without opposition, what could be more pleasant?”

“Ah, you know only half the story,” Huo Yunzi sighed.